Bound by Kindness

Hinata couldn't help but let a giggle out at their banter. Hinata's soft giggle caught everyone by surprise, and she couldn't help but blush slightly at the attention it brought. Kiba, his face turning a deep shade of red, gawked at her, clearly caught off guard by the sound. "Y-You laugh?" he stammered, still not quite able to hide his surprised expression. His cheeks puffed up as he quickly looked away, trying to cover his embarrassment.

Ino rolled her eyes playfully at Kiba's reaction. "Honestly, Kiba, everyone laughs. You're acting like it's the end of the world!" She shook her head in mock disappointment, her hands resting on her hips as she teased him. "Seriously, don't act so surprised just because Hinata's laughing. It's a good thing!"

Kiba, now thoroughly embarrassed, slumped into his chair, his face still flushed as he muttered under his breath, "I wasn't expecting that… Guess I'm just not used to it."

Ino, smirking from the other side of the table, teased, "Well, that's a first! I've never heard you laugh, Hinata. It's actually pretty cute," she said, her tone light and teasing, though there was an underlying warmth to her words.

Hinata, caught between the light teasing and the unexpected attention, turned her head slightly to hide her face, a shy smile pulling at her lips. "I—I didn't realize it was so surprising," she murmured, her voice soft but carrying a warmth that matched her smile.

Meanwhile, Choji, who had been happily eating his food, chimed in with a mouthful, grinning widely. "Heh, that's nice to hear, Hinata. It's always good to see you smiling," he said, his tone warm and genuine, though his attention quickly returned to his meal.

Shikimaru, who had been lazily engaged in a thumb war match with Hanabi, glanced up from their playful game. He gave a nonchalant shrug, as usual, his lazy eyes half-lidded. "Well, it's not a big deal, but I'll admit, it's nice seeing Hinata laugh. It suits her," he commented, his tone casual as he finished his turn in the thumb war, quickly winning with a single move.

Hanabi, still engaged in the match, grinned and pouted at Shikimaru's victory. "Hey, I wasn't ready!" she protested playfully, though she clearly wasn't too upset. She looked up at Hinata with admiration. "You do sound pretty, Onee-chan," she said with a proud smile, her gaze shifting back to her thumb war opponent.

"Oh, you guys!" Hinata protested, though her cheeks flushed with warmth as she stifled another giggle. She smiled at the playful teasing but couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed by the attention.

Shikimaru leaned back in his seat, lazily glancing around the table. "I don't know, it's just not the same without you laughing," he said with a yawn, not really trying to be funny but still managing to add to the lighthearted atmosphere. "I'd say you should laugh more often, Hinata."

Ino, always quick to join in, nodded with a grin. "It really suits you," she said, nudging Shikimaru lightly. "I think this might be the start of a whole new Hinata, huh?"

Choji, who had been happily devouring his food, finally finished a large bite and wiped his mouth, adding, "Speaking of things that make you feel good, my family's having a BBQ tonight. You should come, Hinata!" He smiled warmly, clearly trying to offer a good time for her to unwind. "It'll be fun. Plus, the food is amazing."

Hinata hesitated, her thoughts turning inward. She wanted to say yes, but the reality of her responsibilities weighed on her. "I'm really honored, Choji… but I'm afraid I'll have to decline." She gave a small, apologetic smile. "I have to be home by a certain hour, and I can't be out too late."

Kiba, who had been uncharacteristically quiet while the others bantered, suddenly bristled, his hands tightening into fists on the table. "That's not fair!" he exclaimed, his voice rising slightly in frustration. "You should be able to hang out too, Hinata. It's not like you're doing anything wrong!" He shot an annoyed glance at the rest of the group, his cheeks flushed with mild irritation.

Ino chuckled at Kiba's outburst, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "What, Kiba? Are you jealous?" she teased, leaning forward slightly. "Is it because Hinata has to follow rules while you get to run wild like a stray dog?"

Kiba immediately stiffened, his face turning bright red as he shot back defensively, "I'm not a stray dog!" He glared at Ino but then caught sight of Akamaru, who seemed to have picked up on the teasing and barked in amusement. "Hey, don't start laughing too, Akamaru!" he grumbled, his voice tinged with embarrassment.

The group burst into laughter, and Akamaru continued to bark playfully, clearly enjoying the exchange.

Hinata smiled softly, grateful for the lighthearted moment. "It's alright, Kiba. It's just the way things are. I'll make up for it another time," she said, her voice soothing, as she patted the puppy's head gently.

Choji, eager to lighten the mood further, laughed. "Don't worry, Kiba. You're just mad because you're always running around, no one ever keeps you on a leash." His tone was teasing but kind, his smile reaching his eyes.

Kiba, still slightly flustered, crossed his arms and huffed. "I'm not a dog, Choji! I don't need anyone holding me back!" he muttered, though his irritation was tempered by the lighthearted teasing.

Shikimaru, who had been watching the banter unfold with a lazy smile, shrugged nonchalantly. "Well, if it's a BBQ, I suppose I should go. My family's invited, after all." He looked over at Hinata with a knowing glance. "I won't have to do any work this time—just eat and relax. It'll be a nice change of pace."

Ino, with a sly grin, nudged Shikimaru. "Only because you have no choice but to attend when your mom insists, huh?"

Shikimaru rolled his eyes but smirked. "Yeah, well, I'm not complaining. Free food's always nice." He leaned back in his seat, then turned to Hinata. "Maybe next time, you can join us. It'll be more fun with everyone."

Hinata smiled softly, touched by the offer. "Thank you for thinking of me, but I really do need to head home. Maybe I'll catch you all another time." She looked over at Hanabi, who was quietly enjoying her food, and then glanced at Ko, who had been waiting nearby.

The group nodded understandingly, and after a few more minutes of light conversation, it became clear that it was time for everyone to wrap things up.

As they got up from the table, Kiba grinned, giving Hinata a final teasing look. "Next time, you better join us for real! Or else I'll send Akamaru after you."

Akamaru barked in response, as if in agreement, and Hinata laughed softly.

With a final exchange of goodbyes, Hinata and Hanabi made their way to the door, Ko waiting for them just outside. Ko offered a courteous bow, and Hinata smiled warmly. "Thank you for waiting, Ko."

"No trouble at all, Lady Hinata," Ko said with a polite smile. "Shall we take another walk before heading back to the estate?"

Hinata nodded. "I think that would be lovely." She looked down at Hanabi, who was skipping happily alongside her, a small contented smile on her face. "Ready for another stroll, Hanabi?"

Hanabi nodded eagerly. "Yes, Onee-chan! Let's go!"

Hinata smiled softly as she and Hanabi strolled through the streets, the late afternoon sun casting a golden hue over the village. "It's still such a beautiful day," Hinata remarked, taking in the peaceful surroundings.

Hanabi, her eyes bright with excitement, glanced up at her older sister. "Yeah, it's nice. There's still plenty of daylight left. Maybe we can go to the park and play for a bit?"

Hinata chuckled. "We'll see, Hanabi. We have plenty of time before we need to head back."

As they continued walking, Hinata's gaze wandered toward the busy streets, appreciating the sights and sounds of Konoha—families walking together, shopkeepers closing up their stalls for the evening, and the occasional group of ninja passing by on their way to the Hokage Tower.

It wasn't long before they crossed paths with a familiar face—Naruto, but this time, his face was free of paint. He was standing with a boy who appeared to be around Hanabi's age, with spiky hair and a mischievous smile on his face.

Hanabi's expression shifted as she recognized the boy. "Ugh, it's Konohamaru," she muttered, rolling her eyes. "He's in my class, and he's always so annoying."

Hinata gave a small chuckle and glanced down at her sister. "Hanabi, it's not nice to speak like that about people."

"But he's always making trouble," Hanabi replied, crossing her arms with a pout.

The two of them moved closer to where Naruto and Konohamaru were standing, and it became apparent that they were talking about something. Konohamaru was gesturing enthusiastically with his hands, his spiky hair bouncing with each excited motion.

Naruto, scratching the back of his head and grinning broadly, looked a little hesitant at first but then perked up with his usual determination. "You want to learn my jutsu? Well, I suppose I could show you a thing or two, Konohamaru. But you've gotta be ready for it."

Konohamaru, eyes shining with excitement, nodded eagerly. "I'm ready! Teach me, Naruto-senpai!"

With a proud smile, Naruto reached into his pocket and pulled out something that made Hinata's eyes widen in shock—a dirty magazine. He held it out to Konohamaru, who took it with a look of confusion, unsure of what he was supposed to do with it.

"This is how you do it," Naruto said confidently, completely oblivious to the fact that his choice of demonstration was anything but appropriate for a public place. "This is the Sexy Jutsu!"

Hinata, her cheeks instantly flushed with embarrassment, quickly turned her gaze to the side, trying to avoid looking at the magazine. Her heart started to race, and she instinctively moved closer to Hanabi, who was still clueless about the contents.

"Ko…" Hinata murmured softly, her voice tinged with concern as she realized what was happening.

Ko, who had been standing at a distance, his brow furrowing in disapproval, noticed the magazine and immediately stepped forward, his voice sharp with authority.

"Hey! What do you think you're doing?!" Ko's tone was firm and reproachful as he approached Naruto and Konohamaru. He didn't care who Naruto was or how well-known he might be—this was simply inappropriate, especially around children. "You can't just go around showing stuff like that in public!"

Naruto froze, his face turning bright red as he quickly realized what was happening. He looked down at the magazine in his hands, now fully aware of how inappropriate it was. "Ah, crap," he muttered, embarrassed by the situation.

Without missing a beat, Naruto shoved the magazine back into his pocket and grabbed Konohamaru's arm, practically dragging him away in a hurry. "C'mon, Konohamaru! We gotta go! Now!" he exclaimed, pulling the boy along like a whirlwind.

Konohamaru, equally flustered but still confused, stumbled along behind Naruto. "I—I didn't do anything wrong!" he protested, though his face was bright red with embarrassment.

"I'll explain later, just don't look at me like that!" Naruto barked, his voice low but frantic as he rushed them away from the scene.

As they moved further down the street, Ko let out an exasperated sigh, shaking his head. "Kids these days," he muttered under his breath, his voice tinged with disbelief. He then turned to Hinata and Hanabi, his expression softening. "No worries, Hinata-Hime. It's just a little overboard sometimes, but we'll handle it."

Hinata, still feeling the warmth of embarrassment lingering on her cheeks, let out a relieved breath. "Thank you, Ko. I— I didn't know what to do..." She had seen what Naruto was about to do, and for Hanabi's sake, she knew it was best to remove them from the situation.

Ko nodded reassuringly. "No need to worry. It's done now. Let's just keep going,"

Hinata smiled softly, her nerves settling. "Yes, let's keep going. Thank you again, Ko."

With the tense situation behind them, they continued their stroll through Konoha, the sun setting on a peaceful afternoon.

By the time they arrived home, the peacefulness of the walk had given way to something else entirely. As they entered the household, Neji was already waiting for them. He stood near the center of the living room, looking calm but with an intensity in his eyes that Hinata knew all too well.

Neji's voice was steady, but there was an unmistakable edge of resentment beneath it. "Hinata, Hanabi—the elders of the main branch have organized a spar for today. It's your turn."

Hinata blinked, surprised by the announcement but keeping her composure. "A spar? I wasn't expecting it today."

Neji's gaze hardened, and there was no mistaking the bitterness in his tone as he continued. "It's been arranged. The main branch's wishes, as always, must be followed. We wouldn't want to keep them waiting."

His deliberate use of her name without an honorific hung in the air, a subtle act of defiance that Hinata couldn't ignore. She hesitated briefly, her chest tightening at the pointed resentment, but she nodded. "I understand. Let's not delay."

Hanabi, still a little winded from their earlier walk, looked up at her older sister with excitement in her eyes. "Are you going to spar, Onee-chan? Will I get to watch?"

Hinata's heart warmed at Hanabi's enthusiasm, but she also felt a deep responsibility. "Yes, Hanabi. You can watch," she said gently, though her mind was already turning, knowing the spar would require all her focus.

It was clear from the way Neji stood, his eyes cold and his posture rigid, that this was no ordinary spar. The bitterness in his gaze was unmistakable, a silent reminder of the rift between them. Hinata could feel the weight of the situation, the pressure mounting with every passing second. The elders of the main branch had orchestrated this match with intent, and it was not merely to test her skills. No, this was about proving a point—one that extended beyond technique or tradition.

The main branch expected her to prove something. They wanted to see if the "genius" of the Hyuga clan could truly be better than the side branch. A side branch, represented by Neji, who had always been held to a higher standard despite his own burdens. The idea was to show that even if Neji had excelled, the bloodline of the main branch would always prevail.

Hinata's breath hitched slightly as the pressure of their expectations bore down on her, but she stood tall. This wasn't just about proving her strength; it was about standing her ground against a system that had always tried to separate them. It was about the side branch, about Neji, and about her duty to change things.

Neji's voice cut through the air, his tone more formal than Hinata was accustomed to. "I am ready, Hinata-Hime." His words were clipped, respectful, in the presence of the elders. The difference he showed her was a sharp contrast to the bitterness and resentment he often kept hidden from others—the resentment born of his father's death, a death he blamed on the very family that now watched the two of them, waiting for a display of dominance.

Hinata could see the change in him, the way he was careful to maintain his composure. He might have been forced into this spar, just like her, but there was more weight behind his actions than just duty. She knew his heart—a heart filled with anger that he buried beneath layers of politeness when the elders were around.

He had never fully forgiven her family for what happened to his father, though he never voiced it when others were nearby. The animosity he once held for her had hardly softened, the scars of the past still clung to him in the quiet moments when no one was watching. In the face of the clan's expectations, there was no room for feelings. It was all about proving who was the better Hyuga.

Hinata swallowed, her hands tightening into fists as she centered herself. This match was more than just physical. It was a statement—a test of whether she could hold her own not just against Neji, but against everything the Hyuga clan had imposed on them, against all the things that had tried to tear them apart.

"Let's begin," Hinata said softly, holding out the seal of confrontation as Neji did too.